Bucket list trip:
Where to go and what to see in Cape Town to get the most from your trip – a 6-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Richard Holmes.
Editor note – Richard has not included specific recommendations of where to stay each day unless it’s necessary. Instead, see the ‘Where to stay’ section in our Cape Town destination guide.
Start your trip by taking the Cableway (or hiking) to the summit of the world-famous Table Mountain (you can also abseil straight off again).
After, head to the city centre for lunch on Bree Street: try Clarke’s, a local favourite known for great burgers and craft beer. Then wander the charming city centre; see the Linton Panel at the South African Museum, then take in the National Gallery and the colourful Bo-Kaap.
Book in for dinner at Elgr, amid the bustle of Kloof Street.
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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The iconic flat-topped mountain – sometimes covered with ‘tablecloths’ of clouds – that towers over the beautiful coastal city of Cape Town. Cable car or hike to the top; cable car or abseil down.
Adult price: £18
Best for ages 10+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Lace up your boots and tackle one of the myriad hiking trails going up to the summit of the iconic Table Mountain, a challenging but rewarding 2- to 3-hour scenic hike.
Best for ages 13+
Duration: 2-3 hours
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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One of the world’s great abseils – a one-hour descent down the iconic Table Mountain. Comes with unforgettable views of the city and Atlantic coastline.
Adult price: £23
Min age 10
Best for ages 13+
Duration: 1 hour
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Stop by the South African Museum to see the famous Linton Panel, one of the world’s foremost examples of rock art, extracted from a shelter in the Drakensberg Mountains. Open daily.
Adult price: £2
Best for ages 13+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
The historic Malay Quarter of Cape Town is most famous for its colourful house facades, but delve deeper into the culture and history of the neighbourhood with a local-led walking tour.
Best for ages 13+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Chef Jesper Nilsson blends his Swedish heritage with local culinary traditions to create a multi-cultural dining experience.
Adult price: £35
Best for ages 18+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Extracted from a shelter in the Drakensberg Mountains, these exquisite images of antelopes and humans in delicate tones of red and white were made by the San, a tribe of bushmen. This is one of the world’s foremost examples of rock art.
Best for ages 13+
Duration: -
Take an early ferry out to Robben Island, where the infamous prison offers a sombre insight into South Africa’s apartheid era.
Ferries return to the V&A Waterfront, the city’s leading shopping and dining destination. Seek out superb local designers at The Watershed, then have lunch at PIER. After, take in Africa’s finest art at the Zeitz MOCAA gallery, or if you have kids in tow, visit the Aquarium.
At sunset, loin the locals for a stroll on the Sea Point promenade, before feasting on South Africa’s famous steaks at the seafront Butcher Shop & Grill.
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Powerful, moving and fascinating museum where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. See his cell and the quarry where he crushed rocks for decades.
Adult price: £28
Best for ages 13+
Duration: 3.5
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Take a deep dive into the creative spirit of Africa at the Zeitz MOCCA, a remarkable home for Africa’s leading collection of artworks from Africa and its diaspora.
Adult price: £10
Best for ages 13+
Leave early to make the most of a full day driving clockwise around the Cape Peninsula.
Stop for coffee in bohemian Kalk Bay before admiring the penguins of Boulders Beach. Grab lunch at The Black Marlin for seafood and a sea view.
Head south towards Cape Point, a striking promontory in a national park. The road returns through the seaside suburb of Noordhoek, home to the Aegir Project brewery, before rising over the memorable mountain pass of Chapmans Peak.
Aim to return to Clifton Beach before sunset, then head to trendy Camps Bay for cocktails as the sun sets and dinner at Chinchilla.
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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At the southernmost tip of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Point offers a nature lover’s paradise with a lovely scenic drive to get there.
Adult price: £16
Best for ages 4+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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One of the Cape’s most beautiful beaches, hosting a rare 2,500-strong African Penguin breeding colony.
Adult price: £8
Best for ages 4+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
The craft beer revolution is in full swing in Cape Town, and the Aegir Project in laid-back Noordhoek has long led the charge. Their easy-going taproom and restaurant offer a range of local brews and fine views.
Best for ages 18+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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One of the world’s most spectacular drives, twisting and turning along a heart-stoppingly beautiful coastline.
Best for ages 4+
Duration: 3-4 hours
For a day discovering South Africa’s world-class wines, choose between historic Stellenbosch or the leafy Constantia Valley.
Stellenbosch (45-minutes from the city) combines the charm of a historic university town with elegant estates. The outstanding Tokara Wine Estate offers an art gallery, superb food and winelands views.
For a day with less driving the Constantia Winelands is ideal. It’s a region famous for Bordeaux-style white wines and is home to the famous ‘Vin de Constance’. Have lunch at the equally outstanding Chefs Warehouse.
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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One of the world’s greatest wine regions, home to more than 150 wineries producing numerous world-class wines, gorgeous Cape Dutch architecture, superb restaurants and top-notch art galleries.
Min age 18
Best for ages 6+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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The picturesque Constantia Valley is a compact wine route that’s home to some of the oldest wine farms in the Cape.
Best for ages 18+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
On the crest of the Helshoogte mountain pass, this winery has it all: contemporary architecture, an inviting tasting lounge, cutting-edge restaurant, and refined, approachable wines.
Best for ages 6+
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Constantia’s growing culinary clout is on full display here, with chef Ivor Jones’ small-plate menu offering some of the city’s most inspired, and affordable, fine dining.
Adult price: £50
Best for ages 18+
Start a day of outdoor adventure by lifting off from the V&A Waterfront in a helicopter for an unforgettable flight aver the city, Table Mountain and the spectacular coastline.
Then head beneath the waves: snorkel with seals in the kelp forests off Hout Bay, or take courage in both hands for a shark-diving adventure in False Bay.
Break for lunch at the seaside Harbour House restaurant in Kalk Bay. Ease into the afternoon at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic supper.
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Take to the skies for unrivalled views of Cape Town’s dramatic coastline, and to fly over the iconic Table Mountain.
Adult price: £80
Best for ages 10+
Duration: 15-30 mins
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Snorkel with playful Cape Fur seals in the kelp forests of the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of Cape Town.
Adult price: £40
Min age 10
Best for ages 10+
Duration: 3-4 hours
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Get up close to man’s most feared predator, the infamous great white shark, diving in steel cages just off the back of the boat.
Adult price: £100
Min age 6
Best for ages 13+
Duration: 5
Cape Town, Western Province, South Africa
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South Africa’s premier botanical garden is a treasure trove of flora from the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Adult price: £10
Best for ages 13+
Rise early for the one-hour drive from the city to Franschhoek, Cape Town’s foodie capital.
Once there, hop on the Franschhoek Wine Tram to tour the valley, stopping off at vineyards for wine tastings. Book in for lunch at Rickety Bridge Estate.
Continue your wine-tasting adventure or, for something different, stop by the Franschhoek Motor Museum. If time allows, tour the gardens of Babylonstoren, a farm-to-table delight, or delve into the valley’s history at the Huguenot Monument in town.
Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa
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The gorgeously quaint ‘French Corner’ of the Cape Winelands is also South Africa’s premier gourmet destination.
Best for ages 18+
Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa
This scenic hop-on hop-off tram operates on eight routes connecting 24 wine estates in the Franschhoek Valley. It’s a charismatically convenient way to get around, and you can stop at your own pace for wine tastings, vineyard walks and cellar tours. The routes begin/end at the Franschhoek Terminal and the Groot Drakenstein Terminal. Kids allowed.
Best for ages 13+
Duration: -
Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa
Showcasing over 200 classic cars from the Rupert family’s private collection, petrolheads can delve into a century of motoring history, from South Africa’s first Model T Ford to the rare Ferrari Enzo. It’s open daily, but you must book an appointment via the website before you go. You can also book a ride in a classic car.
Adult price: £5
Best for ages 4+
Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa
Gardeners and food-to-table devotees would love the 8 acres of bountiful gardens at Babylonstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms. They offer daily walking tours guided by the estate horticulturists. There’s also an excellent on-site restaurant, and an elegant farm shop that sells local foods and homewares.
Best for ages 13+
